Colorado is updating the way it counts Latinos in schools.

The state now categorizes students as either Latino or white, not both.

Starting next year, Colorado schools will count race using a two-part question. First, students will be asked if they're of Hispanic or Latino origin. Then they'll choose a racial category, including white or black.

For the first time, schools in Colorado will allow students to choose more than one ethnicity. Currently, students with parents of different races are asked to choose only one racial category.

The changes are part of a new federal requirement to give more detail about the race and ethnicity of students. The racial questions will remain optional.

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